Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Concept: Five for Fighting

Bigger isn’t always better, and those who find the three-row Volkswagen Atlas too large for their needs will soon be able to get their hands on a smaller, more stylish variant of the Tennessee-built crossover SUV. The new entry is being previewed by the Atlas Cross Sport concept, a five-passenger model that shares its 117.3-inch wheelbase with the larger Atlas but casts a shadow 7.5 inches shorter.

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Building on the Cross Coupe GTE concept that Volkswagen introduced at the 2015 Detroit auto show, the Atlas Cross Sport concept shaves 1.7 inches from the height of the Atlas yet grows 1.6 inches wider. Compared with the larger and squarer Atlas, the Cross Sport concept is more stylish with a leaner look.

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, though, and the familial similarity is unmistakable, with the Atlas Cross Sport concept sharing its bigger brother’s square-cut wheel arches, chunky hood and fenders, and basic light designs. A new front fascia and revised LED headlight elements that extend into the grille, as well as a sleeker window line and a more angled tailgate, lend the five-seater a distinct persona.

Inside, there’s a large 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which accompanies a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a separate touchscreen for the climate-control system. A drive-by-wire shift lever and a concept-car-kitsch controller for switching between the all-wheel-drive system’s four modes (On-Road, Off-Road, Sport, and Snow) distinguish the interior from today’s seven-seat production model.

Plug It In, Plug It In

Motivating the Atlas Cross Sport concept is a plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain that combines a 276-hp 3.6-liter V-6 with a pair of electric motors, a 54-hp unit mounted at the front axle and a second, 114-hp setup at the rear. Armed with a combined 355 horsepower, the crossover concept can scoot from zero to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 130 mph, Volkswagen says.

An array of driving modes promises to allow the Cross Sport to adapt to the needs of the driver. In E mode, the crossover is powered solely by its rear motor, which is fed electricity by a center-mounted 18.0-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. With a full charge, Volkswagen claims the Atlas Cross Sport can travel up to 26 miles without firing its engine.

Switching to Hybrid mode allows the powertrain to seamlessly blend its three power sources as needed. Those looking to take advantage of the Atlas Cross Sport concept’s entire stable of stallions will want to switch to GTE mode. Along with prioritizing maximum output, Volkswagen notes that GTE mode also adjusts the powertrain’s throttle mapping, changes the shift points of the six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and alters steering effort.

An Off-Road mode ensures the rear motor remains an active member of the powertrain team by using the tandem efforts of the front-mounted motor and V-6 engine to maintain enough battery charge to keep power flowing to the rear wheels at all times.

Finally, Battery Charge and Battery Hold mode can use the powertrain to charge the battery pack while driving or maintain the pack’s current charge status for use at a later time.

It’s Show Time

In addition to the 355-hp plug-in hybrid setup shown in the Atlas Cross Sport concept, Volkswagen says a more traditional plugless hybrid powertrain is a possible option. In place of the plug-in’s 18.0-kWh battery pack, the hybrid would rely on a smaller 2.0-kWh pack. Utilizing the same 3.6-liter V-6 engine and electric motors at both axles, Volkswagen states, the plug-less model could produce a combined 310 horsepower to propel the crossover from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds.

Production of the Atlas Cross Sport is set to begin next year. Expect the production model to trade in the concept’s aggressive front and rear fascias for more conservative units, tone down some of the more extreme interior fittings, and swap its 22-inch wheels and tires for more modest footwear by the time it goes on sale as a 2020 model.